This is not careful, systematic archaeology, yielding a more sophisticated understanding of Iron Age Jerusalem. It is secular shrine building and idolatrous historical idol worship– consciously or unwittingly serving contemporary religious and political agendas and helping to sabotage any hope of future compromise in Jerusalem.

Ironic that this news appeared on the same day that the Prime Minister’s new Heritage Plan (see last post) sparked violence.

Stay tuned for more updates…

Update #1: In fact here is one factual clarification– the first of many, I expect– this one from Todd Bolen’s BiblePlaces.com blog.

Update #2: In his hyperbolic blogon this discovery, Commentary editor Jonathan Tobin demonstrates how good he is at summarizing hyperbolic archaeological press releases– and how little he actually knows about archaeology.

Update #3: Leen Ritmeyer, who can hardly be accused of minimalism, shares his thoughts and experience regarding the discovery of the new “Solomonic” wall. Bottom line: probably late 8th century BCE, a full two centuries after the time of Solomon.

4 thoughts on “A Truly Unique Talent”

I like Mazar’s phrase: “The city wall that has been uncovered testifies to a ruling presence.” Of course in Jerusalem this `ruling presence’ can only be King Solomon. QED. And the presence of LMLK jars, figurines and bullae – all dating to the late Iron Age – so what?